OCR Gateway Science Biology A (J247)
GCSE Biology
Answer sheet
B5 Genes, inheritance and selection
Separate mark scheme — do not issue with the student worksheet
Time guide: — · Questions: 32 · Total marks: 104
Written in OCR Gateway A style. Use the data sheet where a calculation needs a formula.
Indicative marking points. Award marks for equivalent scientific or mathematical wording. Do not issue this sheet with the student worksheet.
1. State what is meant by a gene.
[1 mark]
- a section of DNA that codes for a protein / sequence of amino acids
2. State what is meant by an allele.
[1 mark]
- a different version of a gene
3. State what is meant by a chromosome.
[1 mark]
- a long molecule of DNA that contains many genes
4. State what is meant by meiosis.
[1 mark]
- cell division that produces four haploid gametes that are genetically different
5. State what is meant by a mutation.
6. State what is meant by natural selection.
[1 mark]
- process where individuals with advantageous alleles are more likely to survive and reproduce
7. State what is meant by genetic engineering.
[1 mark]
- transferring a gene from one organism to another
8. State what is meant by a Punnett square.
[1 mark]
- a diagram that shows the possible genotypes of offspring
9. State what is meant by genotype.
[1 mark]
- the alleles an organism has
10. State what is meant by sexual reproduction.
[1 mark]
- fusion of male and female gametes
11. Grace is asked about a gene in a OCR Biology paper.
(b) [3 marks]
- why a change in a gene can change a protein
12. Grace is asked about an allele in a OCR Biology paper.
(a) [2 marks]
- can be dominant or recessive
(b) [3 marks]
- why a recessive characteristic only shows if two copies are present
13. Grace is asked about a chromosome in a OCR Biology paper.
14. Grace is asked about meiosis in a OCR Biology paper.
(b) [3 marks]
- why meiosis causes variation
15. Grace is asked about a mutation in a OCR Biology paper.
(a) [2 marks]
- may be harmful, beneficial or have no effect
(b) [3 marks]
- why a mutation in a body cell is not passed to children
16. Grace is asked about natural selection in a OCR Biology paper.
(a) [2 marks]
- allele becomes more common
(b) [3 marks]
- why antibiotic resistance evolves
17. In a monohybrid cross Bb × Bb, what fraction of offspring are expected to be recessive?
[3 marks]
- Punnett square
- Final answer: 1/4
18. 80 offspring are produced from Bb × Bb. How many are expected to be heterozygous?
[3 marks]
- 1/2 of 80
- Final answer: 40
19. A gene has alleles in the ratio 3 : 1 of tall : short. In 200 plants, how many short?
20. The chance of a boy is 0.5. What is the chance of two girls in a row?
[3 marks]
- 0.5 × 0.5
- Final answer: 0.25
21. A DNA sequence is 300 bases. How many amino acids could it code for (ignore start/stop)?
[3 marks]
- triplet code
- Final answer: 100
22. A population of 400 beetles includes 36 white (recessive). Estimate q² and q if HWE is assumed.
[3 marks]
- 36/400
- Final answer: q²=0.09, q=0.3
23. Grace carries out modelling meiosis or fertilisation with cards or beads. This is a typical OCR required-practical style question.
(a) [2 marks]
- Independent: allele combination
- Dependent: offspring genotype counts
(b) [2 marks]
- same number of draws
- so the test is fair / only one variable is changed
(c) [2 marks]
- not replacing / biased shuffling
24. Grace carries out extracting DNA from fruit. This is a typical OCR required-practical style question.
(a) [2 marks]
- Independent: fruit type
- Dependent: amount of visible DNA
(b) [2 marks]
- same method
- so the test is fair / only one variable is changed
(c) [2 marks]
- too much blending shears DNA
25. Grace carries out investigating variation in a class (hand span / height). This is a typical OCR required-practical style question.
(a) [2 marks]
- Independent: n/a — observational
- Dependent: measurement
(b) [2 marks]
- same measuring method
- so the test is fair / only one variable is changed
26. Grace carries out dissecting a flower to identify male and female parts. This is a typical OCR required-practical style question.
(a) [2 marks]
- Independent: n/a
- Dependent: correct identification
(b) [2 marks]
- same species
- so the test is fair / only one variable is changed
27. Compare mitosis with meiosis.
[4 marks]
- mitosis: 2 identical diploid
- meiosis: 4 different haploid
28. Compare sexual reproduction with asexual reproduction.
[4 marks]
- sexual: variation, two parents
- asexual: faster, clones
29. Compare dominant allele with recessive allele.
[4 marks]
- dominant expressed in heterozygote
- recessive only in homozygote
30. Compare natural selection with genetic engineering.
[4 marks]
- natural selection is unplanned over generations
- GE is deliberate transfer of a chosen gene
31. Apply your knowledge of genetic engineering to this situation: higher yield vs ethical / ecological concerns
[3 marks]
- higher yield vs ethical / ecological concerns
32. Apply your knowledge of a Punnett square to this situation: fertilisation is random / small sample
[3 marks]
- fertilisation is random / small sample